Best Time To Throw Red Color Hard Baits ?

[ChrisD46]

In the last several weeks I bought various lipless crank baits , regular crank baits and even vibrating jigs - all in RED color (or some combination of red / orange craw colors) . My objective was to exclusively use these red ,  red / orange combo colors for the colder , pre-spawn period exclusively .

 

Fast forward today to the reality my large city area of Georgia has been ordered to shelter in place thru April 15th , established a police enforced curfew  and closed all public parks (including most boat ramps fishing access) thru April 15th as well .

 

With the above situation in mind - it doesn't look like I'm going to be able to use these new red , red / orange combo hard baits this year … *However , while on the topic of red color hard baits for pre-spawn : What months and or water temperature do you predominantly throw red , red / orange color hard baits ? Is there a max month in Spring (I.e. April) or max water temperature (i.e. 65 degrees F.) where you find the red , red orange hard bait colors no longer produce thus you move on to shad (whites , silvers) or Bluegill / Craw colors (Green Pumpkin , Green Pumpkin variation , Black/Blue) colors ? Thanks in advance for sharing your experiences and replies !

[Big Swimbait]

For me they are predominantly pre-spawn and Springtime baits until the water gets into the 70's. But I never put them totally away. There have been days when I couldn't get bit and tied on a red craw crankbait and saved my day, especially post frontal.

[scaleface]

I like a red crankbait at night . It probably appears black but I have success with them .

[Mbirdsley]

Worked today. nailed my personal best LArge mouth on a delta craw shad rap.  Cloudy 50-54 degrees stained water about 10 mph wind.  The water temp where I caught her was 44.20 degrees.  To me the conditions I faced today is what a red crank was designed for  

[WRB]

Crawdad coloration varies regionally but redish brown is the predominate color of southern swamp crayfish we have mostly in California. When our crawdads molt (soft shells) they turn greenish brown and that color becomes preferred.

I would try the red lipless and let the bass decide if they like it.

Tom 

[ATA]

3 minutes ago, WRB said:

Crawdad coloration varies regionally but redish brown is the predominate color of southern swamp crayfish we have mostly in California. When our crawdads molt (soft shells) they turn greenish brown and that color becomes preferred.

I would try the red lipless and let the bass decide if they like it.

Tom 

ive has black and blue crawdad inn big bear as well.

[WRB]

10 hours ago, ATA said:

ive has black and blue crawdad inn big bear as well.

The Signal crayfish is the only native crawdad in Califonia and is black with a white Claw spot. Like the bass crawdads are also transplants from east of the Rocky Mountains. I know Big Bear Lake well, lived and learned to fish there. Red isn't a top color choice at BBL but is at the Delta where Signal crawdads are more common.

Tom 

[Catt]

FYI

 

Color expression in crawfish is regulated largely by special pigment containing cells (chromatophores) located beneath the exoskeleton, and color is normally a function of two factors, developmental stage and the environment. Most crawfish species are generally greenish or brownish as immature animals and begin to take on the characteristic colors as they approach maturity. Color manifestations is intensified in sexually mature individuals. The aquatic environment and diet also influence color.

 

Individual specimens of crawfish vary in color from the normal population. Color variants are almost endless with respect to degree and/or pattern of expression.

 

Molting is the periodic shedding of the old exoskeleton (shell) and takes place with each increase in size which can be 4-6 times a year; once the crawfish reaches maturity the molting process stops Each individual crawfish will vary in color before, during, & after molting!

[ATA]

Ive seen someone on YouTube that got white(transparent), crawdad as well. I was shock when I see that albino.

[Bankbeater]

I like using red or orange when the water is very murky or muddy. Doesn’t matter what time of year. 

[rangerjockey]

For me, the red colors are about water clarity not temps. Spring rains equal muddy water.

[WRB]

When I was a youngster catching crawdads and studing them the coloration is made up of several colors of dots similar to a TV screen. The overall color may look redish to our eye but a live crawdad looked at closely with a magnifying glass the redish had brown, green, black, blue, orange matrix of dots that blend together for the overall color we see. Got to wonder how the bass see or interpret the color?

Tom

[ChrisD46]

1 hour ago, WRB said:

When I was a youngster catching crawdads and studing them the coloration is made up of several colors of dots similar to a TV screen. The overall color may look redish to our eye but a live crawdad looked at closely with a magnifying glass the redish had brown, green, black, blue, orange matrix of dots that blend together for the overall color we see. Got to wonder how the bass see or interpret the color?

Tom

Interesting reply Tom !

[NorthernBasser]

2 hours ago, Bankbeater said:

I like using red or orange when the water is very murky or muddy. Doesn’t matter what time of year. 

Same here. They work all year round for me in those situations. And especially for river smallies. 

[GreenPig]

I throw red or orange when the bass are feeding aggressively. Sometimes times it helps, sometimes not so much.

[Team9nine]

Around green submerged vegetation, usually in the spring when it's first coming up good, and in muddy water anytime.

[Bluebasser86]

Dirty water is when I like red. It's usually better earlier in the year, but it works all year round.

[Catt]

Guess y'all don't use Red Shad no mo?

 

Still works year around, in various water charities & at night.

[Bluebasser86]

18 hours ago, Catt said:

Guess y'all don't use Red Shad no mo?

 

Still works year around, in various water charities & at night.

The biggest bass I've caught in Kansas was on a Red Shad YUM Wooly Bug, a color they no longer offer it in ?